Art, Culture and the Craft of Metal

May 22 TIG Welding Torch Holder

Learning to TIG Project

Build Time: 45 min | Difficulty Level: Beginner

TIG Welding is one of the foundations of good fabrication. Torch cups are easy to break and so having a consistent safe place to put it is essential. Here's a good beginner project that is useful to all TIG Welders.

Tools from the Fuller Moto Shop:

BANDSAW

METAL SHEAR

SANDER

TIG WELDER

Checklist:

Gloves

Vice Grips

Measuring Tools

Welder

Metal Cutting Tool

Grinder

Welding Mask

Instructions:

1 Measure the Metal

Find yourself some metal. We used 1/4" cold rolled steel and cut two pieces to 4 inches long. Of course if you don't have a bandsaw, an abrasive cut-off wheel would work fine too.

2 Radius the Ends of the Rods

Clean up the ends of the rods so they're nice and round. This is a good time to get the mill scale off too. Cleaning each piece before welding makes sense now instead of later.

3 Bend the Two Pieces

Bend the two pieces making sure they're identical. Do this by bending each and holding up next to each other. Trim so they're identical. We use this simple homemade bending die all the time!

4 Cut the Metal

Now we'll make a base to clip the holder on to the table. We made it out of 16 gauge cold rolled steel (3 inches x 6 inches long). You could use some kind of scrap here as well. Some people bolt them to magnets too.

5 Brake the Sheet Metal

Bend the sheet metal into a "U" that fits snugly onto the table. Be creative and do what works for your bench. Clean it where you're planning on welding for good clean puddles. TIG is especially susceptible to impurities.

6 Weld the Two Hooks

Weld the two hooks on to the "U" channel with your TIG. We used 100 amps with 1/16" mild steel rod (ER70S-6) and argon was our gas of choice. Oil or paint to your color and its done!